I just love layers of rich dark fruit like black cherry, boysenberry and blackberry pie rolling over my palate, add in a little vanilla, toffee & smoke with a zesty peppery finish and you have Folie a Deux Zinfandel! Pair with Balsamic Citrus Fig And Feta Stuffed Chicken With Caramelized Onions. Click the link below for the recipe!

It's the time of year for straw hats, sun tan lotion, & Sauvignon Blanc! Matua was very popular at my weekend wine tasting. Refreshing, tropical, & full of grapefruit were some of the accolades this New Zealand wine received! It's crisp with a pleasant herbaceous bite. It is very grapefruit forward so if you're not a fan of that fruit this warm weather white won't make it past your nose :) It has won multiple awards in Hong Kong, China, & New Zealand so add this to your summer wine lineup!

Here's a super holiday wine lineup. William Hill Chardonnay is a little citrusy in the 1st couple of sips then it smooths out and the tropical notes emerge, velvety smooth, a little oak and brown spicey finish. Mirassou Pinot Noir is full of strawberry and raspberry with a soft finish, great with turkey, cranberries, and sweet ham. Gewurztraminer is uniquely spicy, floral with orange blossom and herbal notes. Sweet, thicker than Riesling a great dessert wine.

Looking for a light refreshing summer wine? Starborough Sauvignon Blanc is from E. coast of New Zealand, harvested in one of the sunniest areas in the country. This white is grapefruit forward. But also introduces a unique guava & kiwi flavor along w/fresh tropical & passion fruit to the palate. Then you get this green grassy note, like fresh dill, which makes it pair perfectly w/Dogfish Shrimp Fajitas topped w/ cabbage, roasted red peppers, & a sour cream, dill, & horseradish sauce! Click…

Madria Sangria is perfect for celebrations like Cinco De Mayo & just as fantastic for a summer barbecue! After 2 tastings the Moscato white won out by a large margin. Too sweet for me but fun to play with. The red features orange, lemon, & lime. It's effervescent & a little sharp from the citrus. Add sangria & fresh berries to a punch bowl, top with champagne for a party! The white is full of orange, peach, & apple. It's smooth & sweet. Mix with mango, peach, & flavored vodka for a cocktail.

Being a devoted red wine drinker, it's hard for me to find a white wine I like. But on a warm day when I've been gardening I enjoy a chilled glass of Viognier, and this is one of my favorites! It has fantastic tropical mango fruit flavors and a medium body. Doesn't make my palate pucker with too much citrus. A pleasant wine to sip on the deck or for the Holidays with a cheese or seafood appetizer coarse!

Fantastic spicy aroma. You can even feel it in your eyes. Some leather notes on the nose as well. Loaded with delicious flavors of juicy dark fruit, smokiness, roasted coffee, and chocolate! Luscious layers that pair with a hearty pot roast or beefy blue cheese burger :)

This German mulled spice wine creates a beautiful ambiance for the holidays! Just heat it up on the stove or in a crock pot and your whole house will smell like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, orange peel and vanilla. Serve warm like you would apple cider. You can even add orange slices, apples, and cinnamon sticks.

Looking for a smooth balanced white wine for the holidays? This Campanile wine from the Grave del Friuli region of Italy was very well liked in my tasting. It's mostly Pinot Grigio with small amounts of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco. The mellow structure, mild citrus, and creamy apple-vanilla flavors make it a perfect white for holiday dinner! It's aged in stainless but does not have a sharp minerality note like some pinot grigios do.

Petite Petit-A fantastic holiday red wine! And check out the label, making it a fun wine to give as a gift. Bold substantial body with a surprisingly smooth soft finish. Layers of blackberry, blueberry, dark currant, smoke, spice, and coffee notes. Pair it with a white sharp cheddar to enhance the coffee/dark chocolate!